Six influences of gardens from across the world

Whether you’re at home or away elsewhere in
the world, have you ever stopped and looked at the differences on show in the
gardens you’ve stumbled upon? Possibly not, but next time why not take a moment
to notice? Cultural differences are rife throughout the world and it’s amazing
to see how we change our outdoor space depending on our beliefs and global location.
Enjoy our guide below, looking at how different societies tend to their
gardens.

United Kingdom

The British public hold garden space in
high regard when they are looking at buying a property, with research claiming
we will fork out up to £11,500 more on a home with a garden. For some, a garden
is more valuable than an extra bedroom, meaning that even those of us who
aren’t exactly green fingered love a bit of outdoor space to call our own. We
pine for that perfect lawn, shed and relaxation area with a sun lounger – often
on a raised area of timber decking.

The average UK garden is 15 metres long and
consists of 10 different varieties of flowers and, of course, a garden gnome —
is a garden really complete without one? The most popular floral displays
include tulips, rose lavender and bluebells, all of which add colour to a
vibrant space.

Throw in a greenhouse, birdbath and washing
line and you have the UK’s perfect garden. Unfortunately, though, we normally
only spend 12 hours each month in our garden due to the nation’s temperamental
weather and our busy lifestyles.

Italy

Italian gardens have a prominent focus on
symmetry and traditional spaces are home to few flowers. You will mainly find
evergreen plants that have been manicured into geometric hedges or topiaries. One
thing the Italians are very fond of is covering their stone walls with foliage
vines or climbing roses.

The garden space is seen as an extension of
the home’s entertainment area, so you are likely to find art work cladded
throughout, including sculptures of gods and goddesses. On the patio, a lemon
tree that has been potted in a stone urn is one of the nation’s favourites.

Whereas the UK will feature water features
in the form of a bird bath or pond, homes in Italy prefer the cooling effects
of bubbling fountains, pools or cascades. Don’t be surprised to see water shoot
out of hidden pipes if you’re walking along a garden path — this was a common
feature in old Italy.

India

When you move away from the European garden
scene, you will begin to see even more cultural references included. Like so
many other locations, India is known for its cultural diversity and this is evident
in their colourful gardens. Thanks to the tropical weather India encounters,
its garden plants can thrive and that is why so many homes will be filled to
the brim with flowering plants.

The Tulsi, Queen of Herbs, is one that will
appear throughout the country. It is thought of as the holiest and most
cherished of the many healing and health-giving herbs that will be found in
Hindu homes. Because of its holy status, it is planted in special pots and has
earned a very special place in the country’s homes.

You are also likely to find roses in most
Indian gardens, as they are said to bring happiness to your life — and they
have the bonus of not requiring a lot of care. With cultural references
throughout horticulture, money plants are also considered a lucky plant and there
will be likely spots with them if you are to observe an Indian garden.

United States

The American garden — or yard if you must —
is often larger than its European counterparts. Studies have shown that
Americans are now growing
more food in their gardens than ever before, meaning vegetable patches are
becoming increasingly popular.

In 2009, the White House even planted its
first vegetable since the Second World War and, by 2013, it was reported that a
third of the American public were growing their own food in the backyards.

You will often find multilevel gardens
stateside too. Composite decking is commonly used in spaces that are on a slope
in order to provide a flat surface area to host those elusive barbecues, or to
overlook your garden.

Australia

Ah, life Down Under — it’s the dream for
many Brits, isn’t it? But, how do their gardens compare? While it hugely
depends on where you live — the Outback will differ immensely — we will focus
on the suburban areas of Australia since more than 80% of the nation’s
population lives in cities or bigger towns.

Thanks to the enviable climate on offer,
many Australians place outdoor living as a top priority. Lawns are becoming
less important, with studies
showing that a third of outdoor renovation projects are either reducing
this space or removing it entirely. Decks, pergolas, terraces and verandahs are
springing up in their place and almost half of the projects are incorporating a
barbecue area into their plans.

On the plant-front, homeowners are keen to
stick with floral displays that are native to Australia, or those that are
drought-tolerant. For the lucky ones, an outdoor pool is a luxurious addition
to the outdoor space, so you can cool down with a splash about.

South Africa

South Africans love the outdoors. Be it
their own space or elsewhere, they are known to feel at home in open space.
Ideas that are often noticeable in South African gardens are increasingly
becoming more noticeable across the globe.

South Africans often have a shaded area to
hide away from the glaring sunshine. This could include shade-loving shrubs and
perennials that have a walkway passing
through, which adds to the serenity. They are also very fond of the wildlife.
Whether it’s inviting our flying friends in for a drink of freshwater or
providing nectar-loving birds with plants that delight them, they set up
features to help entice the wildlife into the garden — similarly to how we do
in Britain.

One thing found in many gardens here that
is native to the country is society garlic. It’s a worthy addition to herb
gardens and the flowers bloom even under duress.

It’s clear that no matter where in the
world you are, the garden is an important part of your home. While some use it
for luxury, others believe certain plants can bring good fortune on the family.

Article
brought to you by Arbordeck, a provider oftimber decking, including grooved, reeded, smooth, reversible and
enhanced-grip features.

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About me

Joe Stewart

Hey, Joe here! I'm a home improvement enthusiast with a knack for DIY. It all started with my wife asking me to knock up some flatpack furniture, and now our entire home is purpose-built by me personally! I hope that you can make the home of your dreams with some of my tutorials and tips!